Ski sled



S. W. YODER Jan. 28, 1964 SKI SLED Filed OCT'. 2, 1961 United States Patent 3,119,131 SKI SLED Stanley W. Yoder, P.0. Box 67, Little Rock, Ark. Filed Oct. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 142,049 7 Claims. (Cl. 9-310) This invention relates to ski sleds and more particularly to an improved ski sled of the type adapted to be steered by the rider.

The sled of the present invention is particularly well adapted for use as a water ski sled. In such a use, a rider positions himself on the sled and is pulled along the surface of the water by means of a tow rope extending from a boat or other suitable motivating means. For illustrative purposes, the sled of the invention is described as especially adapted for use in this particular environment. However, it will be understood that the sled has other advantageous uses as, for example, as a snow ski sled. Thus, the description of this one particular embodiment is not intended to be limitative.

For safety reasons, a water ski sled is necessarily pulled by a tow rope grasped by the rider, rather than by one secured directly to the sled. Because of the substautial drag afforded by a sled supporting the weight of the rider, both hands are required by the average rider to maintain the necessary hold on the tow rope. Accordingly, both hands are occupied and cannot be used in steering the sled.

In order to steer ski sleds of this general type, various methods have been employed in the past. One method was for the rider to shift his weight from side to side, so as to tilt the entire sled. This method is unsatisfactory in most cases, as it requires considerable weight and strength on the part of the rider. This is especially true in the case of sleds having more than a single runner or ski. Moreover, it is this last mentioned broad class of sleds, i.e., those with a plurality of runners, which are easiest to ride. For these reasons, the weight shifting method of sled steering is generally unsuitable, particularly where young and inexperienced riders attempt to use the sled.

Other methods of steering water ski sleds in the past have made use of various types of hand operated steering means. Such steering means are manipulated by the rider to tilt the runners about their longitudinal axes. Tilting of the runners is also accompanied by the rider shifting his weight to sink one runner relative to the other, thereby increasing the drag on that runner. This type of steering means can be used only where the tow rope is attached directly to the sled or where it is grasped with only one hand, leaving the other free to operate the steering means. In the first case, a safety hazard is created, as suggested above, whereas in the latter case, the sled cannot be used by the average, inexperienced rider.

In View of the foregoing, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved ski sled having many advantages over prior ski sleds.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a ski sled that is adapted to be steered with a minimum of effort and Without use of the hands.

A related object of this invention is to provide a ski sled having a plurality of elongated runners mounted in spaced, parallel relation and a seat, the runners being tiltable about their respective longitudinal axes responsive to tilting of the seat to steerthe sled.

Another object is to provide a ski sled which may be used safely, even by young and inexperienced riders.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a ski sled which is durable and reliable in serving its intended purpose, yet one which is simple in construction and, hence, inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be better understood by referring to the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the sled of the invention, the position of a rider using the sled being indicated in phantom outline;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the entire sled taken on the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1 FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the pivotal connections of a runner to the frame, taken on the line 3--3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of the connection of the seat to the frame, shown in the area encircled by the line 4 in FIGURE 2; aud

FIGURE 5 is a rear end elevation of the sled.

Referring to the drawing, and in particular to FIG- URE l, the sled of the invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. In general, the sled It) includes a pair of runners or skis 12, frame means 14 mounting the skis, a pivotal seat 16, and control means 18 operatively associated with the runners and the seat. In the illustrative embodiment, the runners 12 and the seat 16 are constructed of Wood and coated with a suitable material, such as fiber glass, to provide a finish which is both durable and pleasing in appearance. Alternately, these parts can be constructed entirely of plastic. The remaining parts of the sled preferably are formed of metal, unless otherwise specified, in order that they will have the required strength.

The runners or skis 12 are elongated and generally flat in shape, having upwardly curved tips 13. As may be seen in FIGURE l, the runners 12 are arranged side by side in spaced relation with their longitudinal axes parallel and horizontally aligned. The frame means 14 serve to maintain the runners 12 in this parallel relationship and to mount them for tilting substantially about their respective longitudinal axes.

The frame means 14 comprise front and rear crossbars 2l) and 22, respectively, and a main shaft 24 extending longitudinally between the crossbars. Each of the crossbars is a generally U-shaped tubular member with its opposite ends pivotally connected to the upper surfaces of the two runners 12. As may be seen in FIGURES l and 2, the rear crossbar 22 is somewhat greater in height than the front crossbar and is formed with a depressed central section.

The crossbar 2i) is connected to the forward ends of the runners 12 by mounting shoes 26 that are vertically aligned with the longitudinal axes of the runners, while the crossbar 22 is similarly connected to the rear ends of the runners. The shoes 26 are designed and positioned to provide for pivotal movement of each runner 12 about an axis parallel to its longitudinal axis, so that the runners may be tilted relative to the frame.

As may be seen in FlGURE 3, each of the mounting shoes 26 embodies a mounting plate 28 and a cooperating par of dome-shaped housings or retainers 3@ and 32 having side openings. In the illustrative embodiment, the retainer 30 is integral with the plate 2S, whereas the opposite retainer 32 is removably secured thereto, as by screws 34, to allow for assembly of the shoe. The retainers 30 and 32 are arranged on the plate 28 with their side openings facing one another and at a longitudinal spacing just slightly greater than the diameter of each of the tubular crossbars, so as to provide a working clearance. The plate 28, in turn, is attached to the upper surface of the associated runner 12 by any suitable means as, for instance, by rivets 38.

Molded or otherwise secured within each of the retainers 3l) and 32 is a shock mount 4@ formed of a resilient, deformable material, such as rubber or the like.

Supported between the shock mounts 4i) of each shoe 26. is a pivot pin 42. In order that the runners 12 will be tiltable substantially about their respective longitudinal axes, the pivot pin 42 of each shoe is arranged with its longitudinal axis 43 parallel to and spaced just slightly above the longitudinal axis of the associated runner. Moreover, the pins 42 on the two shoes 26 mounted on a given runner 12 are axially aligned.

Each of the end portions of the crossbars and 22 is bored, as at 44, to rotatably receive the pivot pin 42 of the corresponding mounting shoe 26. Preferably, a cylindrically shaped insert 45 with a diametrically extending bore is fixed in each end portion of the crossbars. The insert rotatably receives the pin 42 and is adapted both to improve the bearing contact and to strengthen the pivotal connection.

With the crossbars 20 and 22 pivotally connected to the respective runners 12 in the above specified manner, the runners 12 are maintained with their longitudinal axes in spaced parallel relation. Moreover, since the axes 43 of pivot pins 42 are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axes of their associated runners and spaced just slightly thereabove, each of the runners is considered to be tiltable substantially about its respective longitudinal axis. Shock absorber means are provided by the mounting shoes 26 by virtue of their embodyingy resilient, deformable shock mounts 40 for supporting the pins 42.

As noted above, the main shaft 24, connecting crossbars 2) and 22, extend generally parallel to the runners 12 and joins the crossbars at their midpoints. Preferably, so as to permit slight movement of the crossbars with respect to each other, the shaft 24 is pivotally connected to at least one of them. Here, the shaft 24 is pivotally connected to the front crossbar 20 by means of a mounting bracket 48. As may be seen, the shaft 24 bows upwardly from front to rear and includes a horizontal seatmounting portion 25. The reason for providing the crossbars 20 and 22 of different heights and, hence, for bowing the connecting shaft 24 is to space the seat at a comfortable height above the runners and at the same time, maintain the sleek appearance of the sled.

It will be noted that the runners are maintained in spaced parallel relation by the frame means 14, including the crossbars 2G and 22 and the connecting shaft 24. Moreover, the mounting shoes 26 pivotally connecting the crossbars and runners serve to permit tilting of the individual runners 12 with respect to the frame means substantially about their respective longitudinal axes. The constructions and arrangements of the seat 16 and the control means 18, and their association with the runners 12 and frame means 14 are to be described below.

The seat 16 is of the bicycle type and includes an upwardly projecting liange 5@ along its rear edge. As suggested above, the seat 16 is pivotally mounted on the horizontal portion of the shaft 24. Pivotal mounting is accomplished by means of a pair of spaced brackets 52. Referring to FIGURE 4, each of the brackets 52 is secured to the lower surface of the seat, as by screws 54. A central bore 56 is provided in each of the brackets for receiving a bushing 58 in a drive fit, the bushing, in turn, being journalled on the shaft portion 25. With the seat 16 so mounted, it is pivotal about the horizontal axis 60 of the shaft portion 25. It is important to note that the pivotal axis 60 of the seat 16 is parallel to the axes 43 of the pins 42, about which the runners 12 are tiltable.

The control means 18 mechanically connect the runners 12 and seat 16 in such a manner that pivoting of the seat relative to the shaft 24 about the axis 60 produces tilting of the runners substantially about their respective longitudinal axes. Forming a part of the control means `is a U-shaped control bar 64 which extends transversely between the runners 12 at a longitudinal position intermediate the seat 16 and rear crossbar 22. The opposite end portions of the control bar 64 are pivotally connected to the runners 12 at identical locations vertically offset from and .ligned with the longitudinal axes of the corresponding runners and spaced vertically above the axes 43 of the pivot pins 42.

Pivotal connection of each end portion of the control bar 64 to an associated one of the runners 12 is achieved by means of a right angle bracket 66 secured to the upper Surface of that runner and a pivot pin 63. As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the pivotal axis 70 of each pin 68 is vertically spaced above the tilt axis 43 of the corresponding runner a distance Y. Besides functioning to tilt the runners 12 in a manner to be more fully explained, the control bar 64 serves to maintain the runners with their surfaces parallel at all times.

The seat 16 is coupled to the midpoint of the control bar 64 by a rearwardly projecting pin or auxiliary shaft 72. The axis 74 of the auxiliary shaft 72 is likewise arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the runners. Moreover, the axis 74 is vertically aligned with and offset from the pivotal axis 60 of the seat and spaced thereabove a distance X. It will be noted that the plane defined by axes 6) and 74 of the seat is generally parallel at all times to the plane defined by the axes 43 and 70 on each runner. With the specified parallel mechanism, pivoting of the seat 16 about the axis 60 (FIGURE 5) shifts the control bar 64 laterally with respect to the crossbars 20 and 22. Because of the vertical spacing of the various pivotal axes, such shifting produces tilting of the runners substantially about their respective longitu dinal axes (about axes 43) in unison and in the same direction.

Preferably, as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 5, the distance X is equal to the distance Y. It will be recalled that the distance Y is the vertical spacing between the tilt axis 43 of each runner l2 and the axis 70 at the pivotal connection of the control bar 64 and that runner. Similarly, the distance X is the vertical spacing between the pivotal axis 60 of the seat 16 and the axis 74 at the pivotal connection of the auxiliary shaft 72 and control bar e4. With the various axes spaced in the specified manner, pivoting of the seat 16 of a given angular extent produces tilting of the runners of an equal angular extent. Thus, as shown in phantom lines in FIG- URE 5, the angle a is equal to the angle ,8. The advantage of this arrangement is that it permits the rider to quickly gain the feel of the sled.

In use, the rider sits on the seat 16 and inserts his feet in bindings 3@ provided on the upper surfaces of the runners 12 in the manner shown in FIGURE l. The tow rope 82 is grasped with both hands and the sled 10, supporting the rider, is pulled along on the surface of the water.

To steer the sled, the rider simply leans to one side in the direction in which it is desired to turn. Such leaning pivots the seat 16 relative to the shaft 24 and, in turn, produces tilting of the runners 12 in unison and in the same direction. Referring to FIGURE 5, in order to turn to the left, the rider leans to the left to pivot the seat and tilt the skis in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in phantom lines. In addition to producing tilting of the runners 12, leaning to one side or toward one runner laterally shifts the center of gravity of the sled from a central position toward the same runner. Shifting the center of gravity to one side, results in sinking the runner on that side relative to the opposite one. It will be appreciated that this creates a greater drag on that particular runner than on the opposite one causing turning of the sled. Thus, leaning to one side brings about tilting of the skis and a lateral shift in the center of gravity of the sled, these actions cooperating to achieve turning of the sled.

It will readily be appreciated that with the sled provided, steering may be accomplished with a minimum of effort and requires little or no experience on the part of the rider. The natural instinct is to lean in the direction in which it is desired to turn. In the present case, such leaning is the sole movement required to make a turn.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be appreciated that this is by way of illustration only and that numerous changes in the details of the construction and arrangement of the various parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A ski sled comprising: a pair of runners having longitudinal axes and upper and lower surfaces; a crossbar pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the upper surfaces of said runners for mounting said runners in spaced, parallel relation, each of said runners being tiltable substantially about its longitudinal axis; a main shaft secured to said crossbar at a location vertically spaced above said runners and extending generally parallel to the axes of said runners; a seat pivotally mounted on said main shaft at a location vertically spaced above the pivotal connections of said crossbar and said runners; a control bar extending transversely between said runners and pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the upper surfaces of said runners, the pivotal connections of said control bar and said runners being vertically spaced above the pivotal connections of said crossbar and said runners, said control bar maintaining the lower surfaces of said runners parallel to one another; and an auxiliary shaft extending between said seat and said control bar, said auxiliary shaft being pivotally connected to said control bar at a location vertically spaced above the pivotal connection of said seat and said main shaft, whereby pivoting of said seat about said main shaft produces tilting of said runners.

2. A ski sled as in claim 1, wherein the vertical distance between the pivotal connection of said crossbar and each of said runners and the pivotal connection of said control bar and each of said runners is equal to the vertical distance between the pivotal connection of said seat and said main shaft and the pivotal connection of said control bar and auxiliary shaft, whereby pivoting of said seat about said main shaft of a given angular extent produces tilting of said runners relative to said crossbar of an equal angular extent.

3. A ski sled comprising: a pair of runners having longitudinal axes and upper and lower surfaces and front and rear ends, said runners being arranged in spaced, parallel relation and in horizontal alignment; a U-shaped front crossbar pivotally connected at its ends to the upper surfaces of said runners adjacent the front ends thereof; a U-shaped rear crossbar pivotally connected at its ends to the upper surfaces of said runners adjacent the rear ends thereof; a main shaft interconnecting said crossbars and positioned intermediate said runners, said shaft being pivotally connected to at least one of said crossbars; a seat pivotally mounted on said main shaft and disposed thereabove; a yU-shaped control bar extending transversely between said runners at a location intermediate said seat and said rear crossbar, said control bar being pivotally connected to the upper surface of said runners at locations vertically spaced from the pivotal connections of said crossbars with said runners; and an auxiliary shaft projecting rearwardly from said seat and pivotally connected to said control bar, the pivotal connection of said auxiliary shaft and said control bar being vertically spaced from the pivotal connection of said seat and said main shaft in the same direction as the pivotal connection of said control bar and said runners are spaced from the pivotal connections of said crossbars and said runners.

4. A ski sled as in claim 3, including shock absorber means at the pivotal connections of said front and rear crossbars and said runners.

5. A ski sled comprising: a plurality of elongated runners having longitudinal axes; frame means mounting said runners in spaced relation with their respective longitudinal axes mutually parallel and aligned in a common plane, each of said runners being tiltable substantially about its longitudinal axis; a scat pivotally mounted about an axis on said frame means; mechanical linkage control means mounted on said runners and operatively associated with said seat, said linkage being attached to each of said runners at a point lying from the tilt axis of the runner a predetermined distance and in a predetermined direction, said linkage being attached to said seat at a point lying in a direction parallel to said predetermined direction and spaced said predetermined distance from the pivotal axis of said seat, said control means maintaining said runners and said seat in substantially parallel planes at all times.

6. A ski sled comprising: a pair of elongated runners having parallel longitudinal axes and upper and lower surfaces; frame means including a pair of longitudinally spaced crossbars connected at their ends to said runners, a main shaft extending between said crossbars, each of said runners being tiltable about its longitudinal axis; a seat mounted on said shaft and arranged for pivoting relative thereto about an axis generally parallel to the tilt axis of said runners, a rigid control bar extending transversely between said runners and pivotally connected in its central region to said seat at a portion eccentric to the pivot axis of said seat and at its opposite ends to identical portions of said runners spaced from the connections of said crossbars and runners in planes perpendicular to said runners, said control bar being responsive to pivoting of said seat for tilting of said runners.

7. A ski sled comprising: a pair of elongated runners having longitudinal axes; frame means mounting said runners side by side in spaced relation with their longitudinal axes mutually parallel, each of said runners being tiltable about an axis substantially coincident with its longitudinal axis; a seat mounted on said frame means and arranged for pivoting relative thereto about an axis generally parallel to the tilt axes of the runners; and a rigid control bar pivotally connected to said runners at points offset from the longitudinal axes thereof, means attached to said seat and offset from the pivotal axis of said seat for moving said control bar in response to pivoting of said seat in one direction of a given angular extent to tilt said runners in unison and in the same direction to an angular extent substantially equal to said given angular extent, planes dened by said tilt axis of each said runner and the connection of said runner to said control bar being substantially parallel to a plane defied by the pivot axis of the seat and said offset means on said seat.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,160,569 Bourdon Nov. 16, 1915 2,323,847 Sampsell July 6, 1943 2,589,764 Basso Mar. 18, 1952 

1. A SKI SLED COMPRISING: A PAIR OF RUNNERS HAVING LONGITUDINAL AXES AND UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES; A CROSSBAR PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS TO THE UPPER SURFACES OF SAID RUNNERS FOR MOUNTING SAID RUNNERS IN SPACED, PARALLEL RELATION, EACH OF SAID RUNNERS BEING TILTABLE SUBSTANTIALLY ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS; A MAIN SHAFT SECURED TO SAID CROSSBAR AT A LOCATION VERTICALLY SPACED ABOVE SAID RUNNERS AND EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXES OF SAID RUNNERS; A SEAT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN SHAFT AT A LOCATION VERTICALLY SPACED ABOVE THE PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS OF SAID CROSSBAR AND SAID RUNNERS; A CONTROL BAR EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN SAID RUNNERS AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS TO THE UPPER SURFACES OF SAID RUNNERS, THE PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS OF SAID CONTROL BAR AND SAID RUNNERS BEING VERTICALLY SPACED ABOVE THE PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS OF SAID CROSSBAR AND SAID RUNNERS, SAID CONTROL BAR MAINTAINING THE LOWER SURFACES OF SAID RUNNERS PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER; AND AN AUXILIARY SHAFT EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SEAT AND SAID CONTROL BAR, SAID AUXILIARY SHAFT BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID CONTROL BAR AT A LOCATION VERTICALLY SPACED ABOVE THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID SEAT AND SAID MAIN SHAFT, WHEREBY PIVOTING OF SAID SEAT ABOUT SAID MAIN SHAFT PRODUCES TILTING OF SAID RUNNERS. 